From K-12 I don’t remember learning much about Indigenous history until grade 12. I am a history nerd so the major thing I remember learning was Canadian History. We learned about the disputes between the Europeans and the Metis/Indigenous and how the Europeans attempted to rid Canada of the Indigenous people. We also learned about the “purpose” of residential schools, and how the Europeans used them to attempt to assimilate and Christianize the Indigenous peoples.

I have heard many stories through social media and the news, and I have learned of the horrors of residential schools. I have also done extra research on the history of Louis Riel because my grandma’s great-great-uncle was close friends with Louis Riel. I see a lot of stuff on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook about experiences and traditions from indigenous culture.

The wording and emphasis used in the TRC booklet make it very impactful. Emphasizing words that express the conditions makes the entire booklet resonate. They illustrate the pain suffered in residential schools and the devastating conditions that people in these schools had to suffer. Some keywords that can briefly describe a residential school chained together, such as “TRAUMATIC” and “OVERWHELMING” make the booklet significantly more impactful. The importance of truth and reconciliation is incredibly emphasized throughout this entire booklet. Understanding all cultures of Canada in a culturally accepting country is very important to evolving our society and making society work and feel as one.

I need to learn about how these experiences could/have impacted the generations of children I will be teaching. I need to understand how these experiences can pass down through multiple generations as a reminder of the suffering endured.

For a call to action, I can educate students on the significance of Indigenous suffrage in Canada. Being that I want to be a History teacher, I can illustrate the suffering endured in residential schools and the fighting Indigenous people’s have been dealing with for hundreds of years.